AbeBooks book blog

Thriller writer Tom Clancy dies at 66

The thriller writer’s career was launched in 1984 with the release of his debut novel, The Hunt for Red October, which famously became a bestseller after being published by the U.S. Naval Institute Press. It was of their first fictional works and proved to be a surprise smash hit. The book introduced the character, Jack Ryan, who would later star in several more of Clancy’s novels in what’s known as the Jack Ryan series. Hollywood giants Alec Baldwin, Sean Connery, Harrison Ford, and Ben Affleck have all depicted the literary character in blockbuster movies based on the popular series that includes The Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger and The Sum of All Fears, to name a few.

Clancy was a generous signer and hundreds of signed copies of his books are available.